Knob for auto door latches



June zo, 195o J. A. RooK KNOB FOR AUTO DOOR LATCHES Filed May 17, 1946 f uw M INVENToR. JAMES A. ROOK 'g2/Mu m omez/ Patented June 2G, 1950 OFFICE? KNOB FOR AUTO DOOR LATCHES James A. Rook, Ilo's Angeles, Calif., assigner to Charles J. Fischer, Los Angeles, Calif.

This invention relates' to a composite operating-knob for an automobile door latch, or the like.

In the past such knobs have been formed of hard rubber in which threads werecut by screw ing the knob onto the lock activating arm which is located in the body of the automobile door, the latch operating conventionally by depression of the top of the knob protruding from the door edge adjacent the auto window, and conversely the knob being pulled up to unlatch thedoor. As currently made these knobs tend to become loose and accordingly rattle in the door frame, or again they may break oi or the threads strip due to their fragile nature, so that in any event, from time to time, they must be replaced.

Accordingly, it is an object of the, present invention to produce an improved, knob of the type described which may be used either as :an original installment or as a replacement and is especially designedA for superior service which will outlast the life of the car, and may, if desired be transferred from one car 4'to another. In particular, the present knobs areadapted to eliminate their rattling in the door frame, andalso to do away with the possibility of the knob'breaking o'ior stripping its threads. By my invention there is provided such a knob having la, shock resistant sleeve securely mounted thereon, said sleeve being disposed, however, so as not to receive any of the strain between the locking arm :and its attached knob, the mounting threads being permanently formed in the body of the knob, allowing ythe locking arm to be seated therein and securely attached. I

Other objects and advantages-of the .invention will be apparent from the following description and claims',:the novelty consisting in theffeatures of construction, combination of parts, the unique relations of the members and the relative proportioning, disposition, and operation thereof, all as more completely outlined herein and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings which form part of the present specification:

Figures 1 to 4 are longitudinal sectional views through several different forms of my improved knob;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the knob; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of part of an auto door showing the knob mounted in operating position.

As seen particularly in Figure 5, generically such knobs are characterized by a generally annular head portion II), having a convex top or dome I2, a peripherally knurled band or roughened section I4 directly below the dome, an inwardly tapered neck I6, and a dependent cylindrical sectionI I8 therebeneath, said knob .having an axial aperture 20 opening from the bottom jend 22 to permit attachment to the activating arm of the lock; (not shown). As here illustrated, the aperture -20 is tapped` forvscrew-threaded attachment to the locking arm.

According to the present form the cylindrical section I8 of my knob, which is preferably made of metal, is formed of a smaller diameter to allow its insertion into a corresponding sleeve 24 formed of shock absorbing material such as rubber, cork or other suitable elastomeric or com pressible material, the upper terminusor periph ery of thesleeve 25 being-'disposed flush with the lower extremity of the tapered neck. Such a, structure is illustrated in Figure 1. By further modification an internal shoulder 2B is provided within the sleeve and 'adaptedto abut against the shortened endf22a of fthe cylindrical section, as shown in Figure 2. This permits a, nonslipping attachment of the sleeve while eliminating the lower 'guide portion of the cylindrical body. Furtherranchoring'of the sleevevmay be attained by reason' of anv upwardly directed peripheral barb 21 cut in the cylindrical section; Another embodiment is made by providing a peripheral groove 28 formed in the cylindrical section and axially spaced from either end there` of. By this construction the top andbottom edgesy 30 and 32 respectively of the groove provide additional points of resistance to removal of the sleeve frictionally held upon the knob, since the adjacent surface of` the snugly t sleeve tends to expand into thel groove. "In addition, the sleeve may be provided with an inner peripheral .rib 34 adapted toseat in the groove 28. Thisa-pro# duces a highly eiective locking device unusually resistant to strains tending to disengage the two parts of the assembly. In the alternative it may be employed to mount a sleeve which does not form a tight t on the cylindrical section.

While I have shown and described in some detail a few presently preferred embodiments of my knob, it is to be understood that various modications may be made in the construction and use thereof within the scope of the subsequently claimed invention which is to be construed broadly and limited only by prior art.

The vinvention claimed is: 1. An article of the character described including: a generally annular head having a dome shaped top, a peripheral roughened grasping surface and an inwardly tapered, dependent neck sloping therefrom to a dependent, axially restricted cylindrical section, said section having a peripheral groove therein andhaving a longitudinal, internally threaded aperture, open at the bottom and closed at the top; and a sleeve of shock absorbing material mounted snugly on Said cylindrical section, its periphery being co-extensive with the periphery of the lower terminus oi said tapered neck, said sleeve having an internal rib seated in the peripheral groove of said cylindrical section and an internal annular shoulder adapted to abut against 'the bottom of said section and being open at the bottom for insertion therethru of a mounting arm vfor engagement with the internal threads of the cylindrical section. A

2. An article of the character described including: a generally annular head having` a peripheral roughened graspingV Surface and an inwardly tapered, dependent neck sloping therefrom to a dependent, axially restrictedV cylindrical section, said A' section having Y a peripheral groove therein Varid"hfelving` alongi'tudinal, internally threaded aperture', open vat the bottoniand vclosed atthe top; fanda sleeve Yol shock absorbing materialv mountedsnugly on said `cylindrical section, 'its periphery being co-extensive with the periphery of the-lower terminus foi said tapered neck, said sleeve having an internal ribseated in 'the peripheral groove ofsaid vcylindrical' Iseotion and being'open -at the 2bottom for insertion therethrii of=a mounting arm -ior lengagement with the internal threads of the cylindrical section. f

3. An article of the character described including: a generally'annular head having a peripheral roughened grasping surface andan inwardly tapered, vde'penrlent neck sloping therefrom to a dependent, yaxially'restricted cylindrical section, said sectionihwing a peripheral groove therein andfhaving a longitudinal, internally threaded'aperturafopen at thebottom andclosed at the top; and a .sleeve o'f .shock absorbing material mounted snuglyron said'fcylindrical section, its periphery beingfco-extensive `with ther 'periphery of the .lower -terminus-:of said 'tapered neck yand being open iat the bottom for insertion theretliru of' a mounting ami'ior engagement with'the internal threads of the cylindrical section;

4.1m arti-cle of the character described `includ-- ingwa generally annular head having a peripheral roughened grasping surface and an' inwardly tapered,rdpendent `neck' :sloping therefrom to va dependent, axially restricted cylindrioal section, :said section having la peripheral, upwardly *directed barb land `having a .longitud-inal'internaliy'threaded aperture, 4open at the bottom and closed at the top; and a sleeve of shock absorbing material mounted snugly on said cylindrical section, its periphery being co-extensive With the periphery of the lower terminus oi said tapered neck and being open at the bottom for insertion therethru of a mounting arm for engagement with the internal threads of the cylindrical section.

5. An article of the character described including: a generally annular head having a peripheral roughened grasping surface and an inwardly tapered, dependent neck sloping there- Vfrointo a dependent, axially restricted cylindrical section and having a longitudinal, internally threaded aperture, open at the bottom and closed at the tcp; and a Sleeve of shock absorbing material mounted snugly on said cylindrical section, its periphery being co-extensive with the periphery of the lower terminus of said tapered neck, said sleeve having an internal annular shoulder adapted to abut against the bottom of said vsection and vbeing Aopen `at the bottoni for insertion therethru of a mounting arm ior engagement with theA internalfthreads of =thecy lindrical section.

6. lAn article of :the character described including: a generallyannuiar head having a peripheral roughened grasping surface land an inwardly tapered, 'dependent `neck sloping therefrom to a dependent,- axially `restricted :cylindrical section Aand havingla longitudinal, finternally threaded aperture-,fopenat the bottom and closed at the topi and a sleeve of shock absorbing 'material mounted-snugly on said cylindrical section, its periphery being-co-extensive with the periphery oi theflwer terminus of said tapered neck and being open at lthebettcm for insertion therethru of a mounting arm `for Vengagement with the internal threads of the cylindrical section.

JAMES A. ROOK.

jRnEnRENcEs 'orrnn n The vfollowing references are of record in the ille of this patent;

`PATENTS 

